Relocation by Numbers

FIRE Number Calculator

How Much Do You Need to Retire Early?

Your FIRE number is the portfolio size you need so your investments can support your lifestyle indefinitely. The most common method is the 4% rule: divide your annual expenses by 0.04, or multiply by 25. At $48,000 per year in expenses, your FIRE number is $1.2 million.

Assumptions updated: October 2026
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Estimates the portfolio you need to cover your full lifestyle at your chosen withdrawal rate, with the spending adjusted for inflation each year.

FIRE at age 61 · 31 years away

Calculator inputs
Enter your income, spending, and investing assumptions.
ABOUT YOU
SAVINGS AND INVESTING
Using defaults: filing single, 401(k) 8%, moderate returns, 4% withdrawal, 2.5% inflation. Saving is estimated from your after-tax income less spending.
How moving could change your timeline
Geography may be one of the most powerful levers in a FIRE plan. Same income, same returns, different cost of living.
Annual: $48,000
Starts equal to your spending now, so a move shows no gain until you enter what you expect to spend in the new place. Pick a state or enter your own figure.
MOVE IMPACT
Current FIRE age61
FIRE number after move (at that age, future dollars)$2,580,008
FIRE age after move61
Same timeline
Show dollar amounts in:

Example results from sample inputs. Change any field to see your own numbers.

Your FIRE milestone

At your current pace you could reach financial independence at age 61, in about 31 years, around 2057.

FIRE Number
$1,200,000
Based on 4% withdrawal rate, in today's dollars (spending grows with inflation).
Years Until FIRE
31 yrs
Est. FIRE year: 2057
Estimated FIRE Age
61
Savings Rate
28.0%
$59,460 est. net · 25.9% tax rate
Progress to FIRE
6%
$75,000 invested · Projected under these assumptions: FIRE at 61

FIRE at age 61 · 31 years away

How this estimate works
Estimates the portfolio you need to cover your full lifestyle at your chosen withdrawal rate, with the spending adjusted for inflation each year.Returns use your selected volatility preset. Inflation and salary growth compound annually, and take-home pay is recalculated each year through the tax engine, with pay growing at the salary-growth rate and the tax brackets, deductions and 401(k) limit indexed to inflation. Each year's saving is added as twelve monthly end-of-month deposits. This is a planning estimate, not financial or tax advice.
Assumptions behind this result

Replace sample values with your own numbers. Planning assumptions are the site's starting estimates; change them in the settings if you have a view.

  • Age30Sample value
  • Annual gross income$90,000Sample value
  • StateNYSample value
  • Monthly spending now$4,000Sample value
  • Invested portfolio$75,000Sample value
  • Withdrawal rate4%Planning assumption
  • Inflation2.5%Planning assumption
  • Salary growth3%Planning assumption
  • Investment returnsmoderate (7% then 5.5%)Planning assumption

Planning assumption · Sample value. Planning assumptions are the site's starting estimates, not quotes or forecasts. Sample values are placeholders until you enter your own.

Where to go next
  1. Step 1
    Compare a move

    See what a city or state change does to rent, taxes and take-home pay.

    Compare cities →
  2. Step 2
    See the FIRE impact

    Rank cities by how much sooner they could get you to FIRE.

    Best cities for FIRE →
  3. Step 3
    Plan it in detail

    Model withdrawals, taxes and Social Security year by year (Beta).

    Complete Retirement Plan →
Decision engine

Your fastest path to financial independence

You're currently projected to reach your goal in 31 yrs. Here are the changes that would get you to financial independence fastest.

Biggest lever
Raise savings rate to 38%

A higher savings rate means more capital compounding every year, the most direct lever on any FIRE timeline.

Estimated improvement8 years sooner
What would move the needle most

1. Raise savings rate to 38%

8 yrs sooner

More of your income working for you sooner.

FIRE age
53
Years to FIRE
23 yrs

2. Lower spending by 10%

6 yrs sooner

A smaller target means compounding has less ground to cover.

FIRE age
55
Years to FIRE
25 yrs

3. Add $5,000/year to investments

3 yrs sooner

More capital compounding each year builds a meaningful head start.

FIRE age
58
Years to FIRE
28 yrs

These are planning estimates, not guarantees. Small changes in return assumptions, taxes, and future spending can materially change the result.

Frequently asked questions about FIRE numbers

What is a FIRE number?
Your FIRE number is the total portfolio value you need so you can live off investment returns without working. It is calculated by dividing your expected annual expenses by your planned withdrawal rate. Using the 4% rule, your FIRE number is 25 times your annual spending.
How do I calculate my FIRE number?
Take your expected annual expenses in retirement and divide by your withdrawal rate. For example: $60,000 annual expenses ÷ 0.04 (4% rule) = $1,500,000 FIRE number. You can also multiply annual expenses by 25 to get the same result.
Is the 4% rule still valid?
The 4% rule is a commonly used planning starting point, based on historical research showing a 4% annual withdrawal from a diversified portfolio has historically lasted 30+ years. More conservative planners use 3% to 3.5%, particularly for early retirees with longer time horizons. The right rate depends on your risk tolerance, expected retirement length, and portfolio mix.
How does location affect my FIRE number?
Your FIRE number is directly tied to your annual spending. If you move to a lower cost-of-living city or a state with no income tax, your annual expenses in retirement may be lower, which means a smaller FIRE number and potentially years shaved off your timeline.
Do I need to include taxes in my FIRE number?
Yes, ideally. In retirement, withdrawals from taxable accounts and traditional 401(k) or IRA accounts are subject to income tax. Your effective tax rate in retirement depends on your withdrawal strategy, account mix, and state of residence. This calculator applies a state-specific tax model to help you plan more realistically.
What is the difference between FIRE, Lean FIRE, and Barista FIRE?
Traditional FIRE targets a portfolio that fully covers all living expenses. Lean FIRE uses a smaller number by targeting a frugal lifestyle, typically under $40,000 per year. Barista FIRE is a partial retirement strategy where you cover some expenses with part-time income so your portfolio needs to be smaller. Each approach has a different FIRE number.

Sources and limits

Tax figures come from IRS and state government publications (2026 rules, checked October 13, 2026). Written and maintained by Relocation By Numbers. Sources and limits reviewed October 13, 2026. Found a mistake? Tell us in the feedback box below. Full methodology

Sources

Savings, returns, inflation, spending and withdrawal rate are your assumptions.

Not included

  • Taxes use a simplified state-specific model, not a filing-ready return.
  • Wages only: no self-employment, investment, capital-gain or other non-wage income.
  • Standard deduction only; no itemized deductions, tax credits (dependents, education, earned income and others) or alternative minimum tax.
  • Single and married-filing-jointly only; no head of household or married filing separately.
  • Planning estimates, not guarantees; taxes, assumptions and future spending can change the result.

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